David Bahn – Reflections

1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come tothe knowledge of the truth.

I have been invited to pray this morning at the Harris County Commissioners Court. The invitation from Commissioner Jack Morman reads, in part, “Thank you for accepting our invitation to share your faith through prayer at the Harris County Commissioners Court. To that end, I will share the above verse from 1 Timothy, as well as this (edited to add specific reference to the County Commissioners Court) prayer by my spiritual friend (now deceased by alive with Jesus), John Baillie. His morning prayer for the twenty-sixth day:

O you, to whom I owe the gift of this day’s life, give to me also, I pray the spirit to use it as I should. Forbid that I should stain the brightness of the morning with any evil thought or darken the moments of midday with any shameful deed.  Let your Holy Spirit breath into my heart today all pure and heavenly desires.  Let your truth inform my mind.  Let your justice and righteousness make a throne within me and rule my errant will.  Let Christ be formed in me, and let me learn of Him all lowliness of heart, all gentleness of bearing, all modesty of speech, all helpfulness of action, and promptness in the doing of my Father’s will.

O you who enfold the whole earth with your most merciful favor and wish that none should perish, I would call down your blessing today upon all who are striving towards the making of a better world.  I pray, O God, especially—

for all who are valiant for truth.
for all who are working for purer and more just laws:
for all who are working for peace between the nations:
for all who are engaged in healing disease:
for all who are engaged in the relief of poverty:
for all who are engaged in the rescue of the fallen:
for all who are working towards the restoration of the broken unity of your Holy Church:
for all who preach the gospel:
for all who bear witness to Christ in foreign lands:
for all who suffer for righteousness’ sake.

Guide and direct the thoughts and conversations, decisions and deliberations of these men and women who will undertake the affairs of this Harris county Commissioners Court today. Let them be guided by a sincere desire for the common good, and with wisdom, discernment, true knowledge, and in a spirit of public service. 

Cast down, O Lord all the forces of cruelty and wrong. Defeat all selfish and worldly-minded schemes, and prosper all that is conceived among us in the spirit of Christ and carried out to the honor of His blessed name.  Amen.